Is lobster the new burger?
Last season it was all about meat – steakhouses and burger joints were popping up in all the hottest UK spots quicker than you could say ‘extra ketchup, please.’ But fish is back on the menu in a big way and we’ve been scoping out the coolest place for a good catch.
The Crab at Chieveley, nestled in the Berkshire countryside is one of the food world’s best-kept secrets. We headed up to try the lobster Thermidor because, word on the street, is that it might be the best you’ll ever taste.
The beauty of this award-winning seafood restaurant, cleverly disguised as an old-school country pub with a stylish twist, is that it has a small number of boutique rooms. So once you’ve sipped on fine wine and had your fill of delicious food, you can retreat to your own themed bedroom – we loved the Banyan Tree room with its Jacuzzi bath and Thai spa opulence vibe.
But in honesty, this place is all about the food. Starting with Carlingford oysters (we highly recommend the Rockefeller!), washed down with a crisp white, before tucking in to the Lobster Thermidore. We could tell you about its meaty texture and to-die-for flavour combinations but this really has to be tasted to be believed. So we'll leave that to you.
And luckily for some, The Crab is offering a free glass of bubbly and canapés on arrival for Company readers who book a stay throughout October 2012. Just quote ‘Company’ to bar staff on arrival. Or better still? Treat somebody special to a Christmas gift card – they come in £25, £50 and £100 – for a present to remember. Oh and did we mention how good the lobster is? Don’t wait for everybody else to discover this hidden gem. Get in there early!
Double rooms start from £105 per night, book at www.crabatchieveley.com
